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Theatre company showcases ‘Black Nativity’
BY ANNIKA TOMLIN
GetOut Staff Writer
The traditional nativity story of Mary, Joseph and Jesus is retold through song, dance and poetry by the Black Theatre Troupe through Dec. 19 at the Helen K. Mason Performing Arts Center.
The second show in the troupe’s 50th anniversary season, Langston Hughes’ “Black Nativity” features new musical selection and text filled with dynamic gospel choruses, soloists and dance ensembles.
“Black Nativity” is directed by Walter Belcher with choreography by Alexander Patrick. The music staff boasts Brenda Hapkins, musical direction, and Jennifer Robinson and George Johnson as musical supervisors.
This will be Belcher’s fourth time directing the production in his over 15 years with the troupe.
“Every time I direct this show, it has lots of powerful things to unpack, even from a base level,” Belcher said. “It clearly has Christian connotations so however you grew up there is just something around the music that is fun and heartwarming.”
The nearly two-hour show is split into two acts. “Inherently, in the script, the first act is pretty much the same to its original connotation, but the second act is meant to be gospel music that is current and relevant in telling the story of where we are,” said Belcher about the production that was first produced in December 1961.
“The second act changes every year that we do it, unless there are some crowd favorites that we choose to keep. We kind of look at where we are in the world, and we build that second act accordingly.”
Belcher said most of the cast does not have an assigned role in the show.
“We of course have Mary, Joseph and an angel that are truly representing (those
seeNATIVITY page 27
The cast of the Black Theatre Troupe’s “Black Nativity” provides a “fun and heartwarming”
show. (Special to GetOut)
This bus drive will light up your holiday spirit
BY ALLISON BROWN
GetOut Contributor
Cruising neighborhoods looking at Christmas lights is a tradition for many families, but sometimes the logistics do not work out.
Kids complain because of the lack of lights, and/or parents miss the views because they have to watch the road.
Jarrod Riddle said this was the case for his family when he was a kid, and it inspired him to offer his own tour through Spirit of Arizona Tours “I thought, ‘What if I find a really good route where friends and family don’t have to worry about the route or driving, they can just hop on a tour and enjoy the lights how they were meant to be enjoyed?’ So, that’s where the idea came from, and it’s been a pretty successful one,” Riddle says.
“We get a lot of families that show up in Jarrod Riddle he has a five-star rating on Google, TripAdvisor and Yelp. The company earned those stars because, he says, he cares about the customer experience. (Special to GetOut) 9:30 p.m. through Dec. 31 – except for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Each tour starts in Tempe near the 101 and Warner and goes through Tempe and Chandler. The 90-minute tours pass dozens of homes and stop twice for close-up looks. A longtime Valley resident and certified historian, Riddle has been a tour guide for 10 years. Using his insider information, Riddle plans a perfect route that is guaranteed to have great decorations and even avoids traffic delays for an entertaining ride from start to finish.
“If I’m going to offer a Christmas light tour, it’s going to be above and beyond,” Riddle says. “It’s not just going to be random neighborhoods. I made sure to scout out several locations where each street keeps getting better.”
Riddle says the tour hits every decoration
THE MESA TRIBUNE | DECEMBER 12, 2021
Fellowship Square displays deliver Christmas spirit
GETOUT STAFF
At Fellowship Square, people like to say “the Christmas spirit never grows old.” The 400-unit nonprofit independent care senior living facility at 35 W. Brown in Mesa is holding a window-decorating contest for residents, awarding prizes in the form of rental credits in three categories: “Celebrating Our Savior,” “Jolly Holiday” and “Spirit of the Season.”
The public is invited to come enjoy the displays with a walking tour of the property 5-6:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 17. Ballots will be available for visitors to pick their favorite windows. Free cookies, cocoa, pictures with Santa and musical entertainment will add to the festive spirit of the occasion. “Two of our residents – sisters Joan Horner and Gloria Petri – go all out every year as they decorate for Christmas,” said Tracey Biggerstaff, director of marketing. “They were our inspiration for this contest.” Joan’s son sets up a “huge” outdoor display every year, as well.
Visitors are asked to please bring an unwrapped toy donation for area children in need. A health screen and mask will be required. Masks will be provided if needed.
Fellowship Square is the independent living facility within a community that supports seniors as they transition between independent living, assisted living and memory care.
For more information, about the event or about Fellowship Squarecall: 480-834-0600. ■
Sisters Joan Horner and Gloria Petri inspired Fellowship Square’s window decorating contest with their love
of Christmas. (Special to GetOut)
NATIVITY from page 26
roles),” Belcher said.
“They are nonspoken roles, but everyone else is supposed to be themselves. They are supposed to be who they are, so they are not stepping into a character per se.”
The rest of the cast “represents the human experience” by sharing their stories.
“On a base level, there is just the enjoyment of coming to the theater and snapping and clapping along and hearing Christmas carols,” Belcher said.
“I think given where we are in the world and the last two years in the climate of the country, there is an even greater heightened sense of urgency around highlighting the African American experience. Instead of pushing people into the fact that Black lives matter, us celebrating ourselves in that way and us reaffirming those things (is important).”
A UA graduate, Belcher said that he is excited for the theater to reopen. He “totally sees the theater as a refuge” coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Theater across the world tried to do things virtually but quickly realized the magic of the theater exists because there is an in-person element,” Belcher said. “Artists didn’t quite have the same connection as others may have in going physical to virtual.
“For the Black Theatre Troupe, this season is really special because 2020 would have been our 50th year anniversary and so that joy, that celebration, that level of The spectacularly mounted “Black Nativity” includes gospel music and carols. (Special to the GetOut)
accomplishment to celebrate all of the hurdles and challenges before that (didn’t get to happen). Now being able to step back into what would have been that season definitely speaks to us being able to celebrate 50 years of accomplishments and even the theater surviving through COVID when so many other organizations didn’t.” With nearly 20 directing years under his belt, there is one thing that stands out as Belcher’s favorite part about being the director for “Black Nativity.”
“My favorite part of the show is probably sitting in the audience or having a vantage point of seeing the audience and all of the diverse faces that come and clap and laugh and sing along,” Belcher said.
“I am aware that the Black American experience is inherently tied to our white brothers and sisters, to our Latino brothers too, to the LGBTQ community, to our main friends and family. It’s a collective thing so to see so many diverse faces age wise and just watch all of them in this place of celebration it gives you hope.”
Belcher said he enjoys the audience becoming a part of the experience. Although he finds great joy in directing shows such as “Black Nativity,” sometimes it is difficult.
“I think one of the hardest parts of being a director is finding the purest form of honesty and truth and bringing that to the production,” Belcher said.
“How do we get actors to feel comfortable being vulnerable enough to share that truth and honesty? How do you — no pun intended — set the stage for the audience to hear and see that honesty and that truth in it’s purest form?” Belcher elaborated.
“Because you can say, ‘Oh I’m just honest’ but that always is followed by someone thinking they can be an inappropriate smart behind. It’s not about insulting or calling anybody out, it’s just about presenting the purest heartfelt level of truth and honesty no matter what.”
Belcher said that it doesn’t matter if the production is “The Book of Mormon” or “Charlotte’s Web,” finding and executing the honesty and truth within can be difficult on top of figuring out the appropriate “light and sound to accentuate it in the right way.”
He calls “Black Nativity “a wonderful safe space of community and unapologetic pride that exists in the cast of sharing their lived experience through gospel music.
“(The cast) all come with varied levels of experience on stage. Some none, some of them tons but what they generally all have in common is that they have grown up in the church, specifically in Black churches and they come excited with enthusiasm about sharing that part of their lives….Whether they go to the same church of they don’t, there is a commonality in their pride.” ■
If You Go...
What: “Black Nativity” Where: Helen K. Mason Performing Arts Center, 1333 E. Washington St., Phoenix When: Various times between Friday, December 3, to Sunday December 19 Tickets: $42 Info: blacktheatretroupe.org
imaginable, like music-synchronized light shows, Santa Claus, nativity scenes and, in true Arizona fashion, illuminated cactus.
The tour not only goes through some of the best displays in the state, but also the country.
“Two of the streets on the tour compete for best Christmas light displays in America, and one of those streets is basically like a street festival,” Riddle says.
“They have food trucks and Santa Claus who the kids come and talk to. They do horse carriage rides. So, for that street, I actually let my guests get out and walk it if they want. I give them about 20 to 30 minutes to get out and actually walk the streets themselves. It’s a good, fun experience.”
There is more to see than the classics, too. One of the unique displays on the tour is a giant, 25-foot-tall Christmas koala who takes up an entire front yard. Riddle says he spoke to the owner and found out the bear was originally from a storefront in Australia.
Apparently, the family brought it with them when they moved to the States and it was passed down to Phoenix residents. Riddle says that it is always a bit of a show-stopper and has a “Godzilla effect” on kids and adults.
Families and friends are transported to each sight on a luxury bus which is even decorated inside with garland and lights. The bus has 14 captain’s chairs that have armrests and recline for a truly cozy and homey atmosphere.
“They can bring whatever they want on the bus as far as drinks are concerned,” Riddle says. “Since I’m doing the driving, people like to bring hot cocoa for the kids and maybe some canned drinks for the grownups, which is totally fine by me.
“I’ve had people bring little Christmas cookies and stuff like that, so basically they can make it like their own little holiday party.”
This is the Spirit of Arizona’s third year
The tour takes riders through some of the most eye-popping Christmas displays in the East Valley. (Special to the Tribune) offering the Christmas Lights Tour. Riddle estimates he has about 900 guests on average per year.
He says the proof is in the pudding when it comes to his tours, as he has a five-star rating on Google, TripAdvisor and Yelp. The company earned those stars because, he says, he cares about the customer experience.
“Don’t worry about the route, don’t worry about the driving,” Riddle says. “All you need to do is show up, sit back, relax and enjoy the lights.”
Information: spiritofarizonatours.
com ■
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